Three women. Three countries. One shared goal.

In Kyoto, a woman stands ready on the platform with the day’s itinerary in hand.
In Havana, a phone lies within reach, just in case something unexpected happens.
In Rio de Janeiro, another woman welcomes guests over coffee and freshly squeezed juice, sharing her best tips on how to explore the city with confidence and ease.

They rarely take centre stage in photos. Yet without them, many of the moments you bring home from your tour might never have happened.

On International Women’s Day, March 8th, we celebrate three of the women who help make our tours more than just destinations. They create reassurance, connection, and experiences that stay with you long after you’ve returned home.

Meet Hiroko in Japan, Leidy in Cuba, and Marise in Brazil.

When a dream is allowed to grow

The journey into the travel industry has taken different paths for these three women. Yet, what unites them is their shared passion for working with people, cultures, and experiences.

In Japan, Hiroko’s dream began back at university, where she studied English and American literature. The national certification for guides is the country’s only official linguistic qualification – and with a pass rate of just 15.7%, it has a reputation for being exceptionally demanding.

When she was younger, she let go of the idea. For many years, she worked as a proofreader for medical journals – an important role, but one that lacked the human connection she longed for. It wasn’t until her late forties, once her children had left home, that she made a decision: she would give her dream a chance. She studied intensely – and passed. Today, she’s a nationally certified guide, working freelance across Japan.

In Havana, Leidy began her journey with a passion for languages. She studied German language and literature at university, with English as her second foreign language. She’s always been fascinated by how languages can build bridges between people.

That’s why she started out as a guide, where she could put her language skills to use while meeting guests from all over the world. Later, she specialised in guest relations and coordination, and today, she plays a key role in ensuring that every tour runs smoothly.

In Rio de Janeiro, Marise has been working with international visitors for almost four decades. She guides, communicates, and welcomes guests to her home city. Her passion has always been meeting people from different cultures and sharing the joy of showing others around her hometown.

She reminds herself and others:

Over the years, she has studied several languages and immersed herself in history and nature – all to provide her guests with an even richer experience.

Three women. Three journeys. One shared goal: to create unforgettable tours.

Behind the scenes of your tour

When you travel, you see the views, savour the food, and soak up the atmosphere. What you don’t always see is the preparation and sense of responsibility behind it all.

In Japan, Hiroko works as a freelance guide, managing everything from small private groups to larger tours lasting up to 20 days. Her main task is to ensure that guests are safely guided throughout the itinerary and return on time. Her secondary – but equally important – role is to create an experience that feels meaningful and well-organised, regardless of the weather or traffic challenges. That’s why she prepares thoroughly in advance, visiting sites, securing tickets, and arranging logistics. When a British guest once described a tour as making him “satisfactorily tired”, she knew the balance between pace and experience had been just right.

In Cuba, Leidy divides her time between meeting guests and working from the office. She hosts welcome briefings, goes through tour itineraries, answers questions, and makes sure everyone feels at ease from day one. Behind the scenes, she coordinates with local partners, double-checks services, and ensures every detail comes together. She’s also responsible for the emergency hotline, so guests always have a lifeline if something unexpected happens.

“If you stay professional, prepared, and focus on providing excellent service, you will earn respect.”

In Rio, Marise often meets the guests shortly after they arrive. Over a cup of coffee or juice, she goes through the itinerary and offers personal recommendations based on their age, interests, and nationality. She helps guests get to know the city – and most importantly, shows them how to explore it safely and how to make the very most of their stay.

This is exactly where adventure and reassurance meet. It’s where the tour starts to feel real.

The places they love to show

When you ask a guide about their favourite place, you rarely get just one answer.

For Hiroko, it’s impossible to choose between Kyoto, Takayama, and the small islands in the Seto Inland Sea, such as Miyajima. Each place has its own unique atmosphere and charm. From historic temples to mountain towns and coastal landscapes, she loves watching guests discover the Japan that lies beyond the headlines.

For Leidy, the old quarter of Havana is something truly special. The narrow streets, the colourful architecture, and the ever-present music fill the area with an energy she loves to share with visitors.

She especially remembers a German couple who had visited Cuba several times and told her that they:

“… love coming to Cuba because they feel at home.”

Marise mentions two places with the same enthusiasm: Sugarloaf Mountain with its iconic cable car ride and panoramic views of Rio, and the majestic Iguazú Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Many seasoned travellers have told her:

“Rio is the most beautiful city in the world!”

That makes her both proud and happy to show off her hometown.

Being a woman in a global industry

The travel industry is international and diverse, but it is not free from prejudice.

In some places, leadership is still associated with gender. For Hiroko, this can occasionally happen in rural Japan, where a few partners may become uncertain when they discover that today’s guide is a woman.

In Cuba, Leidy has experienced that some people assume women working in the tourism industry have less experience.

And for Marise, it has at times been challenging to be taken seriously as a woman in an international industry.

But what unites them is that they don’t allow assumptions to define them. They let their work speak for itself.

They show up well prepared.

They solve problems.

They deliver every single time.

Advice for the next generation

What would they tell young women who dream of working in the travel industry?

Study. Travel. Learn languages. Understand the culture and history.

Marise reminds us what it’s all about: It may be the guests’ dream tour of a lifetime coming true. That responsibility must be taken seriously.

Leidy encourages confidence, curiosity, and passion. Professionalism and preparation inspire respect.

And Hiroko rounds off with courage: the travel industry is a place where patience and an eye for detail can make all the difference. Take the leap, even when it feels challenging.

The women making travel possible

At TourCompass, we take pride in working with local partners and guides like Hiroko, Leidy, and Marise. They are an essential part of the network that ensures you can explore the world with both a sense of adventure and peace of mind.

When you lose yourself in a temple complex and forget the time.
When you dance for a moment on a street in Cuba.
When you feel the rhythm of the city in Rio.
When you pause and simply take it all in.

There are women behind the scenes who have planned, coordinated, and taken responsibility. Women who give you the freedom to experience the world with a calm heart.

On International Women’s Day, we send a special thank you to them – and to all the women around the world who, every day, help make the world a little more open, connected, and full of adventure.

Three women. Three countries. One shared goal.

A warm thank you from all of us at TourCompass for creating adventures rooted in knowledge and confidence.

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller